Orientadores: Sophie Fraçoise Mauricette Derchain, Luís Otávio Zanatta Sarian / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T00:11:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Serra_KatiaPiton_D.pdf: 3794654 bytes, checksum: ce5565714883e2e12d99e6f9ed0ca141 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Introdução: Na última década, doferentes subtipos moleculares de cancer de mama foram propostos. A classificação clinic-patológicas dos subtipos vem comprovando ser estratégica para predizer sobrevida e resposta ao tratamento. Modificação recente da classificação considera a avaliação semiquantitativa da expressão dos RP no curso clínico e resposta ao tratamento. Embora exista associação apreciável com o prognóstico e indicação de terapia citotóxica e endócrina, os subtipos parecem falhar em explicar completamente o comçortamento da doença e a resposta ao tratamento. Moléculas como as da família das cicloxigenases (COX), composta por três entidades (COX 1, 2 e 3) vem demonstrando associação com a carcinogênese mamária, e a análise da expressão da p53 nos tumores de mama pode também oferecer informações adicionais para determinação do prognóstico. Objetivos: Foi avaliada a associação entre os subtipos clinic-patológicos do cancer de mama com o prognóstico e fatores preditivos em uma relativamente grande casuística de pacientes Brasileiras com câncer de mama, que foram acompanhadas por cerca de quatro anos. Foram discutidas as vantagens e possíveis ressalvas relacionadas à nova classificação. Também foi mensurada a expressão da COX2 e da p53 em relação aos subtipos clínico-patológicos e avaliada se a expressão destas molécular poderia explicar a variabilidade no prognóstico ainda encontrada entre os subtipos clínico-patológicos do câncer de mama. Metodologia: Um total de 183 amostras de cancer de mama foram obtidas de mulheres tratadas no Hospital da Mulher da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brasil, entre Junho de 2008 e Janeiro de 2011. Tissue microarrays (TMA) foram construídos dos blocos originais de parafina para realização de imunoistoquímica (IQ) e hibridização fluorescente in situ (FISH). IQ foi realizada para detecção da expressão de RE, RP, ki67, COX2 e p53; o status do HER2 foi avaliado por FISH nas 183 amostras. Os tumores foram classificados em cinco categorias de acordo com a definição correspondente clinic-patológica dos dos subtipos intrínsecos do câncer de mama, definida durante a 13th St Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference (2013). As características clínicas e patológicas das pacientes e seus tumors e a sobrevida foi avaliada em relação aos subtipos clínico-patológicos, a COX2 e a p53. O tempo médio de seguimento foi 2,94 anos (90% faixa central = 0,93 a 4,1 anos). Resultados: Aproximadamente 75% dos tumors foram classificados como luminais-like. OS HER2 positivos (não luminais) somaram 9,3% dos casos e os Triplos-negativos 13,1%. Os Luminais B-like e HER2 positivos (não luminais) foram associados a alto grau histológico quando comparados aos Luminais A-like (p<0,01). Os Luminais A-like associaram-se significativamente com melhor sobrevida global e livre de doença quando comparados aos HER2 positivos (não luminais) e Triplos-negativos. Não houve tendência à expressão de COX2 relacionada aos subtipos de Luminal A-like a Triplo-negativo. Em contraste, a p53 se expressou em cerca de 67% dos tumores Luminais A-like, 50% dos Luminais B-like HER2 positivos, 60,9% dos Luminais B-like HER2 negativos, 82% dos HER2 positivos (não luminais) e 87% dos Triplos-negativos (p para tendências = 0.06). Houve uma significativa expressão de COX2 nos tumors (66,9%) quando a p53 eram também positive, comparada àqueles tumors que não expressavam p53 (em cujo caso apenas 18,0% dos tumores foram positivos para COX2; p<0,001). Nem a COX2, nem a p53 se relacionaram à sobrevida das pacientes. Conclusões: O critério mais estrito para definer os tumors Luminais A-like aumentou a acurácia da classificação para selecionar tumors que partilhem um bom prognóstico e respondam a terapia endócrina. Parece haver uma associação positive entre a expressão da COX2 e da p53. Por outro lado, nem a expressão da COX2 nem a da p53 se associaram aos subtipos clínico-patológicos, características clínicas e do tumor e ao prognóstico. Parece ser muito cedo para eleger a detecção de COX2 usando IQ como ferramenta de prognóstico ou preditiva, mas evidências incipientes apontam para um possível papel para o marcador / Abstract: Background: In the last decade, different molecular subtypes of breast cancer have been proposed. The clinico-pathological surrogate subtypes of breast cancer classification has been proven as straightforward strategy to predict patient survival and response to treatment. Recent modifications to the classification considered the semi quantitative evaluation of the expression of PR in the clinical course and response to treatment. Although displaying appreciable association with disease prognosis and the prognostic value of cytotoxic and endocrine therapeutic modalities, the subtypes seem to fail at completely explaining disease behavior and response to treatment. Molecules such as those of the cyclocooxigenase (COX) family, currently composed of three entities (COX 1, 2 and 3) have been shown to be associated with breast carcinogenesis, and the analysis of p53 expression in breast tumors may also offer some additional prognostic clues. Objectives: We tested the association of the current clinico-pathological surrogate subtypes of breast cancer with the main prognostic and predictive factors in a relatively large dataset of breast cancer Brazilian patients, which were followed up for almost four years. We discuss the advantages and possible caveats related to this new classification. Our study also assessed COX2 and p53 expression in these clinico-pathological subtypes, and evaluated whether the expression of these molecules could help further explain the variability in prognosis still found within the surrogate molecular groups of breast cancer. Methods: A total of 183 breast cancer samples were obtained from women treated at the Women's Hospital of Campinas State University, Campinas, Brazil, between June 2008 and January 2011. Tissue microarrays (TMA) were constructed from the original paraffin blocks for immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of ER, PR, ki67, COX2, and p53; the HER2 status of the 183 specimens was assessed using FISH. Tumors were subtyped into five distinct categories according to the Clinico-Pathological surrogate definitions of intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer defined during the 13th St Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference (2013). Clinical and pathological features of patients and their tumors, and patients¿ survival were assessed in relation to the surrogate subtypes, COX2 and p53. Mean follow-up time was 2.94 years (90% central range = 0.93 to 4.1 years). Results: Approximately 75% of the tumors were classified as luminal-type-like. HER2 positive (non-luminal) tumors accounted for 9.3% of the cases and Triple-negative tumors for the remainder 13.1%. Luminal B-like and HER2 positive (non-luminal) tumors were associated with higher histological grades when compared to Luminal A-like tumors (p<0.01). Luminal A-like tumors were significantly associated with better disease free and overall survival when compared to HER2 positive (non-luminal) and Triple-negative tumors. There was no trend in COX2 overexpression from Luminal A to Triple-negative subtypes. By contrast, p53 was expressed in roughly 67% of the Luminal A-like tumors, 50% of the Luminal B-like HER2 positive tumors, 60.9% of the Luminal B-like HER2 negative, approximately 82% of the HER2 positive (non-luminal) and 87% of the Triple-negative tumors (p for trends = 0.06). There was a significantly higher proportion of COX2 positive tumors (66.9%) when p53 was also positive compared to when the tumor was negative for p53 (in which case only 18.0% of the tumors were positive for COX2; p<0.001). Neither COX2 nor p53 were found to be associated with patients¿ survival. Conclusions: The more strict criteria to define Luminal A-like tumors increased the accuracy of the classification by selecting tumors that share a good prognosis and response to endocrine therapy.There seems to be a positive association between the expressions of COX2 and p53. On the other hand, neither the expression of COX nor that of p53 was associated with clinic-pathological subtypes, tumor features and prognosis. It seems to be too early to elect the detection of COX2 using IHC as prognostic or predictive tool, but incipient evidence points towards a possible role for the marker / Doutorado / Oncologia Ginecológica e Mamária / Doutora em Ciências da Saúde

Inverted repeats (IR) are common part of DNA of all living prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Inverted repeats plays an important role in the regulation of basics cells processes. They are responsible for formation of cruciform structures. Inverted repeats also cause genomic instability and can be a source of numerous mutations. Cruciform structures can be recognized by DNA-binding proteins and can also act as a transcriptional regulators. Using the Palindrome Analyser tool, the frequency of IR and localization of inverted repeats in bacterial genomes was analyzed. The frequency of IR across the bacterial genome is variable. The frequency of short inverted repeats shows an approximately quadratic dependence on the %GC content in the genome with a minimum of about 50% of GC content. The localization of inverted repeats with respect to “annotated features” show a non-random distribution. The frequency of IR for most features is higher “outside” than “inside”.

Apart from the p53 protein, the TP53 tumor-suppressor gene is expressed as another eleven protein isoforms with the use of alternative splicing, alternative promotors and alternative translational initiation sites. Abnormal expression of these isoforms has been observed in tumor tissues. The binding properties as well as the biological functions are also modulated, due to sequential and therefore structural differences from the p53 protein. p53 is regulated by these isoforms in both suppressive and supportive manner. Explanation of the p53 isoform regulation mechanism in cells could lead to desired alternative splicing of the chosen isoforms, and modulation of isoform expression could be used in cancer treatment based on p53 therapy. Basic information about p53 protein is summarised in the theoretical part of this master thesis, supplemented with recent advances in the field of p53 isoforms, as well as the Gateway cloning method. The main goal of the experimental part was p53 isoform production in a bacterial expression system. Prior to the protein production, DNA sequences coding twelve p53 isoforms were prepared using PCR and Gateway cloning. In total, twelve entry clones and eight expression clones were prepared by cloning the isoforms’ sequences. After the protein production and purification, the detection using SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting was performed with five p53 protein isoforms: p53, 40p53, 40p53 and 40p53. DNA binding properties of p53 protein isoforms will be tested in subsequent research.

Protein p53 je jednou z nejdůležitějších molekul v lidském těle. P53 reguluje celou řadu procesů v buňce, jako je například oprava DNA, buněčný cyklus nebo indukce apoptózy. Protein p53 je známý i jako „strážce genomu“. DNA vazebné schopnosti proteinu p53 jsou důležité pro normální vývoj a růst buňky. Mutace genu pro p53 mohou vést ke ztrátě jeho DNA vazebných vlastností a funkce nádorového supresoru, což muže způsobit rozvoj rakoviny. Teoretická část této diplomové práce je zaměřena na popis vlastností, funkce a mechanismus aktivace proteinu p53 a popis lokálních sekundárních struktur DNA. Hlavním cílem experimentální části byla produkce čtyř mutantních forem proteinů p53 a wild-type p53 proteinu a studium jejich vazebných vlastnosti s různými lokálními sekundárními strukturami DNA. Pomoci Gateway klonovacího systému byly připraveny čtyři expresní vektory, které byly použity pro produkci proteinů v bakteriálním expresním systému. Celkem byly úspěšně připraveny čtyři mutantní formy a wild-type p53 protein. Jejich vazebné vlastnosti byly studovány gelovou retardační analýzu. Výsledky naznačují různé DNA-vazebné vlastnosti wild-type p53 a studovaných mutantních forem tohoto proteinu. Všechny mutantní proteiny ztratily schopnost sekvenčně specificky vázat DNA, zatímco nespecifická interakce s DNA byla pozorována u tří ze čtyř mutantních forem. Jeden ze studovaných mutantních proteinů se vázal jenom na superhelikální formu DNA.

Protein p53 which is encoded by gene TP53 plays crucial role in cell cycle as a regulator of transcription of genes in cases when cell is under stress. Therefore p53 acts like tumor suppressor. Understanding the pathway of p53 regulation as well as predicting its binding sites on p53 regulated genes is one of the major concerns of modern research in genetics and bioinformatics. In first part of this project we aim to introduce basics from molecular biology to better understand the p53 protein pathway in gene transcription and introduction to analysis of prediction of p53 binding sites. Second part is about implementation and testing of tool which would be able to predict transcription factor binding sites for protein p53.

Nowadays, it is very important to study gene expression mechanism in molecular biology. Gene expression is also regulated by sequence specific transcription factors which binds to regulatory regions of the genes. Searching for this specific sequences can be very problematic because transcription factor binding sites can be very degenerative. There are several possible methods that can be aplied to this problem. First part of this paper describes few algorithms for transcription binding sites search. Second part contains design and implementation of algorithm for searching binding sites of transcription factor p53.

Die ketogene Diät besitzt ein breites mögliches therapeutisches Spektrum und aufgrund der induzierten Ketonkörper in der Theorie auch antiproliferative sowie antiinflammatorische Wirkmechanismen. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Wirkung der Ketonkörper β-Hydroxybutyrat und Acetoacetat auf Kolonkarzinomzellen in vitro zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden Proliferation, Koloniebildung, Gen- und Proteinexpression von drei verschiedenen Zelllinien analysiert. Um einen möglichen Zusammenhang der Ketonkörperwirkung und dem p53-Status zu prüfen, wurden Zelllinien mit unterschiedlichem p53-Status eingesetzt. Etwaige Effekte der Ketonkörper auf die Strahlensensibilität der Zellen wurden ebenfalls untersucht. Um möglichst tumorphysiologische Bedingungen herzustellen, wurden die Versuche nicht nur unter normoxischen Bedingungen (21 % Sauerstoff), sondern parallel unter 1,5 % Sauerstoffkonzentration durchgeführt. In den Tests zur Proteinexpression konnte festgestellt werden, dass die Expression von p53 nicht durch die Zugabe von Ketonkörpern beeinflusst wird. Die Proteinexpression von p21 und p27 war unabhängig von der Expression von p53. Die Analyse der Genexpression beweist, dass die untersuchten Zelllinien sowohl die Monocarboxylattransporter (MCTs) exprimieren, über welche die Ketonkörper aufgenommen werden können, als auch die G-Protein- gekoppelten Rezeptoren, über welche die Ketonkörper auf die Signalketten wirken können. Ein hemmender Einfluss der Ketonkörper auf die Zellproliferation ließ sich im WST-8-Test für die Zelllinie HT-29 unter Zugabe von 3-OHB in Kombination mit LiAcAc nachweisen. Nach Strahlenbehandlung stellten sich die Zelllinien CaCo-2 und HT-29 bei Betrachtung der Kurzzeitproliferation weitgehend strahlenresistent dar. Bei Untersuchung der Langzeitproliferation mittels Koloniebildungstest zeigte sich jedoch auch hier eine zytotoxische Wirkung der ionisierenden Strahlung. Für die Zelllinie CaCo2 konnte zudem durch Zugabe von LiAcAc allein und in Kombination mit 3-OHB eine signifikante Reduktion der Koloniebildung nach Bestrahlung mit 2 Gy festgestellt werden. Zusammenfassend weisen die durchgeführten Versuche darauf hin, dass die Ketonkörper unabhängig vom p53-Status in alle untersuchten Kolonkarzinomzellen aufgenommen und verwertet werden können. Ein allgemein synergistischer Effekt zwischen ionisierender Strahlung und den Ketonkörpern konnte nicht eindeutig nachgewiesen werden. Die Zugabe der Ketonkörper führte weder zu einer Proliferationsanregung noch zur Reduktion der Strahlensensitivität, so dass hier von einer klinischen Unbedenklichkeit ausgegangen werden kann. Fortführende klinische Studien sind notwendig, um die in vivo Effekte zu untersuchen. / The ketogenic diet has a wide possible therapeutic spectrum and due to the ketone bodies, it also has possible antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the ketone bodies β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate on colon carcinoma cells in vitro. For this purpose, proliferation, colony formation, gene expression and protein expression of three different cell lines were analyzed. In order to investigate a possible correlation between the ketone body effect and p53 status, cell lines with different p53 status were used. Effects of the ketone bodies on radio sensitivity were also investigated. In order to create tumor-physiological conditions, the experiments were not only performed at normoxic (21% oxygen), but also at hypoxic conditions (1.5 % oxygen). In the protein expression assays, it was found that the expression of p53 was not affected by the addition of ketone bodies. The protein expression of p21 and p27 was independent of the expression of p53. The analysis of gene expression proves that the cell lines express both the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) through which ketone bodies can be taken up into the cells, as well as the G protein-coupled receptors through which the ketone bodies can act on the signaling chains. An inhibitory effect of the ketone bodies on cell proliferation could be detected in the WST-8 assay for the HT-29 cell line with the addition of 3-OHB in combination with LiAcAc. The cell lines CaCo-2 and HT-29 were largely resistant to radiation in terms of short-time proliferation. In the Colony-Forming-Assay, however, we also observed a cytotoxic effect of ionizing radiation on those cell lines. For the cell line CaCo2 the addition of LiAcAc alone and in combination with 3-OHB resulted in a significant reduction of colonies after irradiation with 2 Gy. In summary, the experiments performed indicate that the ketone bodies can be taken up and utilized in all colon carcinoma cells examined, irrespective of the p53 status. A general synergistic effect between irradiation and ketone bodies could not be clearly demonstrated. The addition of the ketone bodies did not lead to either a stimulation of proliferation or reduction of radio sensitivity, so that clinical safety can be assumed. Further clinical studies are necessary to investigate the in vivo effects.

Interactome of IL-1α N-terminal domain Cytokines are highly effective mediators produced by various cell types within and outside of the immune system with the aim to influence the orientation, intensity, and duration of the immune response and inflammatory process. Their biological effects mediated through binding the high-affinity membrane receptors and triggering the signal transduction pathway are usually well defined. However, as it is more and more frequently observed, in addition to the exocrine function, some cytokines may show intracrine effects. For this type of cytokines, the term "dual function cytokines" has been adopted. One of these cytokines is Interleukin-1α, in which the recent research has concentrated on determining its intracellular functions. The intracellular function of interleukin-1α has not been clearly defined so far. However, apart from the absence of the conventional hydrophobic sequence, its existence is supported by the fact that the N-terminal peptide included in its precursor is highly conserved and contains nuclear localization signal. The aim of this work is to define the conditions of localization of the interleukin-1α N- terminal domain in different cellular compartments and to study proteins potentially interacting with it using fluorescent microscopy. Key words:...

<p>The family of proteins known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) is large and diverse. Often, one and the same hnRNP will perform multiple cellular functions, leading to their description as “multifunctional proteins”. The two hnRNPs known as hnRNP A1 and hnRNP C1/C2 are multifunctional proteins found to affect the transcription, splicing, stability, and translation of specific genes’ mRNA. They are implicated in carcinogenesis, apoptosis, and DNA damage response mechanisms.</p><p>The aims of this thesis were to study the hnRNP A1 and hnRNP C1/C2 dependent regulation of two highly stress responsive genes, the tumor suppressor p53 and the cytochrome P450 enzyme <i>Cyp2a5/CYP2A6</i>. We identified hnRNP C1/C2 as a DNA damage induced binding protein towards the coding region of p53 mRNA, and found that while a specific <i>cis</i> binding site appears to have a positive function in p53 expression, interaction of hnRNP C1/C2 with this site represses the expression. The data suggest that two distinct molecular mechanisms exist for the down-regulation of p53 by hnRNP C1/C2. One mechanism, active during transcriptional stress, is dependent upon the aforementioned site, and the other, independent. We discuss how hnRNP C1/C2 dependent repression of p53 may play a role in apoptosis. </p><p>The data presented here further suggest that the transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes controlling the expression of the murine <i>Cyp2a5</i> gene are linked <i>via</i> hnRNP A1, by performing functions in the nucleus as a transcription factor, or in the cytoplasmic compartment as a <i>trans </i>factor bound to the 3’UTR of the mRNA as needed. Our studies of the human ortholog of this gene, <i>CYP2A6</i>, suggest that this gene is regulated post-transcriptionally in a manner similar to that of its murine counterpart, <i>via</i> changes in mRNA stability and interaction of hnRNP A1 with its 3’ UTR. </p>

Apesar do excelente prognóstico dos tumores de Wilms (TW) localizados (estádios I e II) e de histologia favorável (HF), 10% deles recidivam. Em 122 pacientes com TW com essas características, diagnosticados de 1976 e 2001, analisamos alguns fatores clínicos, como a idade por ocasião do diagnóstico e peso do tumor, em todos os pacientes; fatores biológicos, como o TP53 e a glicoproteína-p, em 40 deles; e variáveis histológicas de microestadiamento (invasão de seio renal, cápsula tumoral, vasos intra-renais e pseudocápsula inflamatória) em 28 com TW em estádio I. Correlacionando todos esses fatores com a presença de recidiva, observamos que a chance maior de recidiva estatisticamente significativa somente foi verificada em pacientes com duas ou mais variáveis de microestadiamento e/ou peso tumoral maior que 550 g / In spite of the excellent prognosis of localized favorable histology (FH) of Wilms' tumor (WT), 10% of them will relapse. In 122 TW patients with these characteristics, diagnosed between 1976 and 2001, some clinical factors have been analyzed, such as age at diagnosis and tumor weight in all patients; biological factors, like TP53 and p-glycoprotein, in 40 of them; and microsubstaging histological variables (invasion of renal sinus, tumor capsule, intrarenal vessels, and inflammatory pseudocapsule). Correlating all of those factors with relapse, we have observed that only patients with the association of two or more microsubstaging variables and/or tumor weight over 550 g showed a statistically significant higher chance of relapse